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Previous research has suggested vegetarian diets may extend life expectancy compared with meat-eating, but many of the studies have been small.

In the latest study there were 2,570 deaths among the study participants during an average follow-up time of almost six years.

There was a 12 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause for vegetarians compared with non-vegetarians.

Men fared better, as they benefited from a significant reduction in deaths from cardiovascular disease and ischaemic heart disease.

In women, there were no significant cuts in these categories of deaths.

The report said ‘These results
demonstrate an overall association of vegetarian dietary patterns with
lower mortality compared with the non-vegetarian dietary pattern.

‘They
also demonstrate some associations with lower mortality of the
pesco-vegetarian, vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian diets specifically
compared with the non-vegetarian diet.’

The
main reason for the difference is thought to be the effect of a low-fat
vegetarian diet on cholesterol and blood pressure, partly through
avoidance of red meat and also from higher consumption of vegetables.

Red meat contains ingredients that have been linked to increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer

Red meat, especially processed meat, contains ingredients that have been linked to increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

These include heme iron, saturated fat, sodium, nitrites, and certain carcinogens that are formed during cooking.

Eating
more vegetables and fruit may also help through their antioxidant
effects, combating harmful naturally occurring chemicals in the body.

Official advice from the Department of Health in 2010 said cutting down on red meat could reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

Liz
O’Neill, head of communications at the Vegetarian Society said ‘With
higher intakes of fresh vegetables, pulses and other plant-foods, it
seems obvious to many that balanced vegetarian diets are healthier than
those reliant on meat, but we do not need to rely on gut instinct with
so much hard evidence of that health advantage, both in the UK and
abroad.

Vegetarians are more likely to live active lives and exercise, increasing their chances of a healthy, longer life

Research showed the lifestyle choices of vegetarians help improve life expectancy. People who don't eat meat proved to be less-likely to smoke and drink alcohol

‘This new American study is significant because the nature of the community studied (Seventh Day Adventists) means that even the meat eaters included were leading a relatively health-conscious lifestyle.

‘The reported 12 per cent reduction in mortality was directly associated with being vegetarian, rather than having a healthy balanced diet.

‘Similarly UK studies indicate that vegetarians have lower rates of cancer and significantly lower (32 per cent less) rates of heart disease which are major causes of death in Britain.’

Findings from the largest British study of 45,000 Britons earlier this year found vegetarians have healthier hearts than people who eat meat or fish.

They were one-third less likely to need hospital treatment for heart disease or die from it.